Volunteer in Cambodia

Volunteer in Cambodia with Volunteering Solutions, an international volunteer placement organization. VolSol offers a series of professional, safe and affordable volunteer opportunities in capital city of Phnom Penh. These programs are highly apt for teenagers, families, groups, and college students looking for volunteer abroad opportunities. For corporate and college groups, VolSol has flexible pricing plans depending on group size. Interested candidates can choose to volunteer with children under teaching program as well as provide support in taking care of children at orphanages. Other volunteer abroad opportunities in Cambodia includes hospital volunteer under Medical program, Community Development, and Women Empowerment.

Volunteer programs in Cambodia are mainly located in the capital city of Phnom Penh as well as in Siem Reap, Kampong Speu, Kampong Cham, Battambang and Pursat. The capital city Phnom Penh offers several cultural and historical attractions including the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the National Museum. This makes it an interesting mix of volunteering and traveling in Cambodia, where gap year travelers not only get to help creating a positive impact in many underprivileged lives but also utilize the weekend time to explore the beauty of Cambodia.

Showing 6 Programs

For travellers visiting the country for the first time, this would be a joyride of experiences. And those who are revisiting the land, can get to add some more memories to their Cambodia diaries. Great way to experience Cambodia during your Gap Year or during Summer 2017.

Volunteering Solutions is an international volunteer placement match organization and hence all our living arrangements meet international standards. Our Volunteers have to literally arrive with their bags packed and that is it. We provide the best possible stay to our volunteers.

Airport Receive/ Transfer

Volunteers are picked up from the Phnom Penh International Airport by the local coordinator or representative. Those volunteers who are arriving overland or are already in Cambodia will be picked up from the bus station or at a meeting point decided beforehand.

Orientation

A two day intensive orientation will be provided by the local staff. Areas like culture, greetings, locations, transportation, safety and volunteer placements are explained during the orientation. Volunteers are given a local tour of Phnom Penh city as well as welcome dinner.

Accommodation

Volunteers are provided with an option to live with a host family or in volunteer house. You can let us know about your preference and requirements in the application form and we will try our best to accommodate your needs.

Staying with a local host family is exciting and a very good opportunity for the volunteers to get to know the traditional customs, culture and ‘way of living’ of Cambodians. Our volunteers usually stay with middle class families. All volunteers are provided with separate rooms in most cases. However, in a rare case you would be sharing the room with a fellow volunteer. All host families are carefully selected and approved by the local staff and have past experience of hosting international volunteers. All accommodations have running water and electricity available.

The Volunteer house accommodation is centrally located and close to most of the popular tourist sites in Phnom Penh.Volunteers share a room with other volunteers. The house is a great place to meet and interact with other like minded volunteers from different parts of the world. Internet facility is available for volunteers use and laundry facility is also available at extra cost.

Meals

Three meals per day are provided to the volunteers. Lunch and dinner will be rice, a bowl of soup, fried meat (chicken, beef. pork or fish) and a lot of vegetables. Breakfast usually comprises of Tea, Bread, Coffee, Jam and fruits. Cambodian food is light and healthy and is not very spicy and hot. The Cambodian cuisine is a fusion of cuisines from other countries in South East Asia such as Vietnam and Thailand.

During your Free Time

Phnom Penh has a lot to offer and you will always find something of interest to do and see during your free time. There are a lot of temples, museums and historic sites to visit such as Toul Sleng Genocide Museum, Royal Palace, National Museum and Wat Phnom. You can also join the local Khmer cuisine cooking classes, if that interests you! You will have longer free time available on the weekends where you can visit the nearby beaches and zoo.

Loading...

Volunteering Solutions is an international volunteer placement match organization and hence all our living arrangements meet international standards. Our Volunteers have to literally arrive with their bags packed and that is it. We provide the best possible stay to our volunteers.

Airport Receive/ Transfer

Volunteers are picked up from the Phnom Penh International Airport by the local coordinator or representative. Those volunteers who are arriving overland or are already in Cambodia will be picked up from the bus station or at a meeting point decided beforehand.

Accommodation

You’ll experience a range of different styles of accommodation throughout your trip covering hotels, hostels and a rural dorm style community hall!

Please remember that you are in Cambodia and that there might be situations where you need to adjust – accommodation is basic and might not come with all the home comforts that you are used to. If you come with an open mind, a sense of adventure and a love of trying new things - then you will have a great time in Cambodia.

In Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, your accommodation will be in twin or triple share rooms with air-conditioning and en-suite bathrooms.

During the volunteer teaching part of your trip, you’ll be staying in a very simple dorm style community living area.

Whilst this accommodation is basic, it’s run by an incredibly friendly family and it’ll give you the opportunity to really feel like being a part of the community.

Meals

Not all your meals are included in this project, so get out there and try some amazing local delicacies!

It is hard to say how much you will need for food per day - It’ll depend on the place you choose to eat and also on what you eat! - But we usually suggest around 15-20 USD per day, per person.

Some breakfasts are provided and will usually be simple local dishes – healthy but different to what you might be used to at home!Bottled water is easily available everywhere and we suggest you to consume that - the local team will remain concerned about all volunteers drinking enough water to make sure that everyone remains well hydrated !

Application and Program Details

Sort Results

Application and Program Details

When should I apply for the volunteer programs in Cambodia? VolSol recommends all its international volunteers to apply well in advance. Our major booking seasons are between January to July and September to December. We receive the maximum number of volunteers for the Cambodia programs during the Summer months of May – Aug. These are very busy months and to avoid losing your spot in the volunteer placement, book in advance.

How long does it take to process my application? Will my application be accepted ? Our staff including the project placement takes about 10-12 working days to process the application. The process includes receiving and verifying all documents with the placement as well as internal documentation and matching your placement choice as per your preference given in your application.

Are there any necessary requirements to participate in the Cambodia volunteer programs? The minimum program duration requirement for Cambodia programs is 2 weeks. Volunteers participating in the NGO Support Program need to participate for a minimum duration of 5 weeks.As on the date, you arrive to begin your project placement in Cambodia, you must be at least 18 years old. Participants enrolled in the Orphanage and Teaching Project, need to provide a Criminal Background Check Report as well.

Can I volunteer as part of a Group? Volunteering in a group is always a good idea. In fact, we recommend our volunteers to come with their colleagues, friends or families. Volunteering in a group improves productivity and also is safe when you venture out for sightseeing after your work. We welcome families, high school groups, corporate groups and university groups in the Cambodia program.

When do I need to arrive in Cambodia for my program? What will happen once I arrive here? The Cambodia programs start on 1st and 3rd Monday of every month and participants need to arrive on the Sunday prior to that. To view the arrival dates, please click here

Volunteers are picked up from the Phnom Penh International Airport by the local coordinator or representative. Those volunteers who are arriving overland or are already in Cambodia will be picked up from the bus station or at a meeting point decided beforehand.

Flights and Visa

Do I need a visa to volunteer in Cambodia ? Citizens of most countries can receive a 30-day business visa when you arrive in Cambodia. The fee is usually US$25 and you can extend your visa when you are in Cambodia. You can also apply for an E-visa before going to Cambodia.

What are the recommended inexpensive airline options to fly to Cambodia in? Phnom Penh International Airport (Airport Code : PNH) is well connected with flights from major Asian and Middle Eastern destinations. Most volunteers coming from Europe and North America have a layover in Thailand, South Korea, Qatar, Vietnam or Thailand and then take a connecting flight to Phnom Penh.

Health & Safety

How safe is Phnom Penh in general? Cambodia and Phnom Penh is a fairly safe place for tourists. Our volunteer accommodations are safe. However as in any other big city you need to be vigilant about venturing out alone and drinking with strangers and also take general safety measures. You will be told more about it during the intensive orientation on your first day of the program.

What immunizations/vaccinations will I need for travelling to Cambodia? If you are travelling from a country with a risk of Yellow Fever Virus (YFV) transmission, you are required to show proof of Yellow Fever vaccination. Apart from that travellers are recommended to take the following vaccinations :- Hepatitis A and B Typhoid Tetanus

We would also request you to consult your travel doctor before going to Cambodia.

Do I need to buy health insurance? Yes, for all participants it is mandatory to have a travel medical insurance. To provide the best option to our participants, we offer comprehensive insurance coverage in collaboration with a leading insurance provider. To view the coverage details, please click here

Accommodation and Living

Tell me more about accommodation and food arrangements? VolSol volunteers are provided accommodation from the program start/arrival date to end date of the program. Accommodation is provided with in the volunteer house or in a Cambodian host family depending on your preference, availability and the final project allocation.

The volunteer house is centrally located and the local staff office is also located there. The coordinators are available to assist the volunteers in case of any need. Rooms are shared with usually 2-4 other volunteers. The house has wireless internet available for volunteers use as well as a common area where you can socialize with other volunteers.

Volunteers are provided with three meals a day. Cambodian food is light and healthy and is not very spicy and hot.It is a fusion of different South East Asian cuisines and meals usually comprises of Rice, Vegetables, Chicken, Beef and noodles.

Can vegetarians be accommodated? Yes, however you must inform us in advance and also mention about any dietary requirement in your application form.

Would I have free time during my program? Can I do sightseeing during my program? Your weekends and evenings would be free and you can venture out for some sightseeing and city trips. You can visit the temples of Angkor near Siem Reap city in the west, the beaches of Sihanoukville and coastal towns on along the southern coast and also the jungle villages along the countryside.

Are there more expenses once I arrive in Cambodia? Your program fee covers you for food, accommodation, airport pick up, Orientation, Pre departure information and in country staff support. You will need to cover yourself for your personal expenses, such as traveling, telephone, shopping, sightseeing etc. Traveling within Cambodia is cheap; however, you should carry around $50 - 60 per week for your basic personal expenses, such as snacks,water, local transport, phone etc.

What hours will I volunteer every day? VolSol volunteers usually work for 5 to 6 hours a day depending on their program type. You will have weekend off so you can go to travel on weekends.

Where can I change my money in Phnom Penh? Are there ATMs in Phnom Penh? You can change money in any bank or at the Cambodia airport by showing your passport. There are ATM's located all around the capital city, Phnom Penh.

Connect with Past Volunteers

How can I connect with past Volunteering Solutions Cambodia alumni as well as other former and current volunteers? We encourage volunteers to get in touch with former Volunteering Solutions participants and also other program participants joining our projects. You are recommended to join the Volunteering Solutions Facebook Page or Facebook Group to communicate with other participants.